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This Karin Minyo Shamisen is built by a close friend…This Karin Minyo Shamisen is built by a close friend of Hiroshi Nitta (Masahiro Nitta’s father) in Kanagawa. -
This is a standard kouki shamisen, made in Japan. Honestly,…This is a standard kouki shamisen, made in Japan. Honestly, I would recommend checking out the Rose Shamisen, which is also made from kouki but has more customization options and has more information, pictures, and video available. -
This Shitan Tsugaru Shamisen is made from Shitan wood, which…This Shitan Tsugaru Shamisen is made from Shitan wood, which is higher quality and heavier than Karin wood. -
Designed with a perfect half-size sao and a natural skin,…Designed with a perfect half-size sao and a natural skin, you can get an authentic shamisen sound with a size convenient enough to take hiking or on the road. -
Sale!
One of our first and most popular shamisen has finally…One of our first and most popular shamisen has finally returned! The Eclipse has been absent for many years due to the unavailability of tochikarin (highly figured Karin) in matching colors. For example, the lumber for sao wood was tan and the lumber for the tenjin would be brownish-pink. Why does this matter? Well, unlike other shamisen which can be stained or colored with tinted urushi, the Eclipse is finished with Tokyo Wagakki's renowned polishing technique, which takes two weeks to apply and uses no lacquers nor colorings. Such a polish gives the entire shamisen a deep warm glow, but retains the colors of the natural wood. Thus, while a shamisen with different color tones wouldn't affect the sound, the craftsmen at Tokyo Wagakki weren't pleased with the visual aesthetic, and so we paused production of this model... until now! After many years, tochikarin wood in matching colors came back in stock, and we're finally able to bring the Eclipse back to the Bachido Store! Read more about this exciting shamisen below! Also, check out our exciting new Eclipse: Special Edition!Color Will Vary
As you can see in the photo, the left Eclipse has a redder hue than the right Eclipse. There is no difference in quality nor tone, but it's simply the natural color of the polished wood. As stated above, the Eclipse uses no stain or lacquers, so please know that any particular Eclipse shamisen might be redder or tanner than another. -
To learn more about The Heirloom Rose Shamisen or the…To learn more about The Heirloom Rose Shamisen or the accompanying accessory set, please click on their respective links below! Important: This shamisen does NOT include any accessories required to play (no strings, plectrum, etc). Unless you already have accessories, please consider selecting The Tsugaru Shamisen Accessory Set option for all the essential items required to make your shamisen playable. Otherwise, by selecting The Heirloom Rose Shamisen only, you will receive the masterfully built shamisen in an unplayable condition. The Tsugaru's Shamisen Accessory Set consists of entry level items so users can get the most affordable option to start playing. If you'd like to select your own accessories (to get preferred colors, choose particular bachi, add extra strings, etc), please go to Essentials and choose the best items for yourself. Need help in curating your shopping list? Learn about the most essential items here! -
The No-Limits Shamisen! An otherwise standard high quality Karin shamisen…The No-Limits Shamisen! An otherwise standard high quality Karin shamisen with a unique base of the sao which extends to the edge of the dou, as opposed to swooping down (the shape which is called Hatomune) Important: This shamisen does NOT include any accessories required to play (no strings, plectrum, etc). Unless you already have accessories, please consider selecting The Tsugaru Shamisen Accessory Set option for all the essential items required to make your shamisen playable. Otherwise, by selecting The "No Limits" Shamisen only, you will receive the masterfully built shamisen in an unplayable condition. The Tsugaru's Shamisen Accessory Set consists of entry level items so users can get the most affordable option to start playing. If you'd like to select your own accessories (to get preferred colors, choose particular bachi, add extra strings, etc), please go to Essentials and choose the best items for yourself. Need help in curating your shopping list? Learn about the most essential items here! -
Designed with a perfect half-size sao and a natural skin,…Designed with a perfect half-size sao and a natural skin, you can get an authentic shamisen sound with a size convenient enough to take hiking or on the road. Important: This shamisen does NOT include any accessories required to play (no strings, plectrum, etc). Unless you already have accessories, please consider selecting The Beginner's Shamisen Accessory Set option for all the essential items required to make your shamisen playable. Otherwise, by selecting The KoShamisen only, you will receive the masterfully built shamisen in an unplayable condition. The Beginner's Shamisen Accessory Set consists of entry level items so users can get the most affordable option to start playing. If you'd like to select your own accessories (to get preferred colors, choose particular bachi, add extra strings, etc), please go to Essentials and choose the best items for yourself. Need help in curating your shopping list? Learn about the most essential items here! -
This is a standard type of Shamisen for Tsugaru style.…This is a standard type of Shamisen for Tsugaru style. Important: This shamisen does NOT include any accessories required to play (no strings, plectrum, etc). Unless you already have accessories, please consider selecting The Tsugaru Shamisen Accessory Set option for all the essential items required to make your shamisen playable. Otherwise, by selecting The Karin Tsugaru Shamisen only, you will receive the masterfully built shamisen in an unplayable condition. The Tsugaru's Shamisen Accessory Set consists of entry level items so users can get the most affordable option to start playing. If you'd like to select your own accessories (to get preferred colors, choose particular bachi, add extra strings, etc), please go to Essentials and choose the best items for yourself. Need help in curating your shopping list? Learn about the most essential items here! -
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8hd58MXJgw[/embed] The Best of Both Worlds: Vintage Materials Meets Modern…The Best of Both Worlds: Vintage Materials Meets Modern Perfection. Experience a rare "Brand-New Vintage" Tsugaru Shamisen. Crafted from "Golden Age" Red Sandalwood (Kouki) with extraordinary tochi (tiger-stripe figuring) rarely seen in modern harvests, this instrument has been 100% restored by the legendary craftsmen at Tokyo Wagakki. Featuring the brand new Hibiki Sonic synthetic skin (not yet publicly available), this is a collector-grade instrument with the playability of a brand-new professional model.
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Wood: Highest-grade old growth Kouki with heavy Tochi figuring (Sao & Tenjin). It literally doesn't get any higher grade than this.
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Skin: Hibiki Sonic (Choice of Black or White)
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Hardware: Gold fittings (Kinbozo), Zouge Itomaki
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Condition: Professionally refreshed to Brand New condition.
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While this shamisen was previously built by an unknown maker…While this shamisen was previously built by an unknown maker in Japan (sadly, there are almost never signatures nor identification marks from shamisen makers), my guess is it was made in the 1990s to early 2000s. There is a very light amount of tochi (figure) in the kouki, but has beautiful deep red throughout. This instrument has been fully refreshed to brand new condition by the legendary craftsmen at Tokyo Wagakki, which includes their signature mirror-like polishing technique. This shamisen can be skinned with the brand new Hibiki Sonic synthetic skin (not yet publicly available).
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Wood: Deep red Kouki with light amount of tochi figuring (Sao & Tenjin).
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Skin: Hibiki Sonic (White or Black)
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Itomaki: Elite Itomaki (African Blackwood w/ Amboyna Burl caps)
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Condition: Professionally refreshed to Brand New condition.
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While this shamisen was previously built by an unknown maker…While this shamisen was previously built by an unknown maker in Japan (sadly, there are almost never signatures nor identification marks from shamisen makers), my guess is it was made in the 1990s to early 2000s. There is a moderate amount of tochi (figure) in the kouki sao, but has beautiful deep red throughout. This instrument has been fully refreshed to brand new condition by the legendary craftsmen at Tokyo Wagakki, which includes their signature mirror-like polishing technique. This shamisen can be skinned with the brand new Hibiki Sonic synthetic skin (not yet publicly available).
Note: The deep vivid reds in the kouki is more striking in darker rooms with direct light. I've included a few photos of the tenjin in a regular room so you can see it's darker appearance with ambient lighting.
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Wood: Deep red Kouki with moderate amount of tochi figuring (Sao).
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Skin: Hibiki Sonic (White or Black)
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Itomaki: Elite Itomaki (Curly Siamese Rosewood)
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Condition: Professionally refreshed to Brand New condition.
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While this shamisen was previously built by an unknown maker…While this shamisen was previously built by an unknown maker in Japan (sadly, there are almost never signatures nor identification marks from shamisen makers), my guess is it was made in the mid to late 2000s. There is a minimal amount of tochi (figure) in the kouki sao, but has beautiful deep red throughout. This instrument has been fully refreshed to brand new condition by the legendary craftsmen at Tokyo Wagakki, which includes their signature mirror-like polishing technique. This shamisen can be skinned with the brand new Hibiki Sonic synthetic skin (not yet publicly available).
There are a few notable points for this shamisen which affect the price, so please read the longer description below.
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Wood: Deep red Kouki with minimal amount of tochi figuring (Sao).
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Skin: Hibiki Sonic (White or Black)
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Itomaki: Elite Itomaki (Amboyna Burl and Curly Siamese Rosewood)
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Condition: Professionally refreshed to Brand New condition.
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Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all…Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all skill levels. Wood: Kouki Sao and Tenjin Bachi: Plastic with faux bekko, and soft bachi case Itomaki: Ebony Skin: Kanade, White (synthetic skin) Sawari: Azuma Sawari Neck: Futozao (thick neck) Condition: In very good condition Includes: Everything shown in pictures (Doukake, Bachi, Yubikake, Ito Set, Dou Gomu, Neo, Koma, Naga Fukuro), and a Fujaku Strip -
While this shamisen was previously built by an unknown maker…While this shamisen was previously built by an unknown maker in Japan (sadly, there are almost never signatures nor identification marks from shamisen makers), there is a sticker inside the dou with a date of Heisei 6 (1993), so that is most likely when this shamisen was crafted. There is a high amount of tochi (figure) in the kouki sao, although a majority of the tochi is on the side of the sao towards the audience. There is also beautiful deep red throughout. This instrument has been fully refreshed to brand new condition by the legendary craftsmen at Tokyo Wagakki, which includes their signature mirror-like polishing technique. This shamisen can be skinned with the brand new Hibiki Sonic synthetic skin (not yet publicly available).
There are a few notable points for this shamisen which affect the price, so please read the longer description below.
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Wood: Deep red Kouki with high amount of tochi figuring (Sao), but only on the audience-side of the sao.
- Sao: Chuzao
- Trimmings: Large Azuma Sawari, Ayasugi, Kinbozo (gold fittings)
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Skin: Hibiki Sonic (White or Black)
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Itomaki: Elite Itomaki (Amboyna Burl and Curly Siamese Rosewood)
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Condition: Professionally refreshed to Brand New condition.
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The Best of Both Worlds: Vintage Materials Meets Modern Perfection.…The Best of Both Worlds: Vintage Materials Meets Modern Perfection. Experience a rare "Brand-New Vintage" Tsugaru Shamisen. Crafted from "Golden Age" Red Sandalwood (Kouki) with extraordinary tochi (tiger-stripe figuring) rarely seen in modern harvests, this instrument has been 100% restored by the legendary craftsmen at Tokyo Wagakki. Featuring the brand new Hibiki Sonic synthetic skin (not yet publicly available), this is a collector-grade instrument with the playability of a brand-new professional model.
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Wood: Highest-grade old growth Kouki with high level of Tochi figuring (Sao & Tenjin) and ribbons of reds. Unlike the TW-001 which requires studio lighting to bring out the intense figure, the tochi on this shamisen is very visible in ambient light.
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Skin: Hibiki Sonic (White)
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Hardware: Gold fittings (Kinbozo), Phoenix Elite Itomaki
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Condition: Professionally refreshed to Brand New condition.
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This is a beautiful second-hand Tsugaru Shamisen with prominent tochi…This is a beautiful second-hand Tsugaru Shamisen with prominent tochi figuring on the sao and genuine vintage solid zouge itomaki fitted to this tenjin. The sao is highly polished with an oil-finish, and overall this instrument is very high quality. This shamisen is practically in brand new condition, but the price has been lowered due to the following points.
- The lightest amount of wear on the sao topside. No actual kanberi wear, but just the faint indentations from wound strings rubbing against the highly polished surface. The previous owner either had a very light touch, or almost never played it.
- There are a few scratch-like dents on the base of the saruo (shown in picture gallery). I'm not sure how it was caused, but seems like something metallic may have been accidentally pressed against the wood.
- A few light scuffs on the dou.
- This shamisen was polished with an excessive amount of migako (polishing powder). Migako is an essential material for traditionally polishing shamisen to a beautiful shine, but if too much is applied, the pores of the wood become filled with the white powder. The white-filled pores are noticeable in both the tenjin and dou.
- Wood: Tochi Kouki
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Skin: Kanade (Can be replaced with Hibiki: Sonic)
- Sao: Futozao
- Dou: Tsugaru Size 5
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Hardware: Genuine Vintage Zouge Itomaki, Azuma Sawari
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Condition: Second-hand
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Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all…Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all skill levels. Wood: Kouki Sao and Tenjin Bachi: refurbished Bachi Itomaki: Ebony and Kouki (Tochi) Skin: Hibiki, Black (synthetic skin) Sawari: Azuma Sawari Neck: Chuuzao (medium neck) Condition: In excellent condition Includes: Everything shown in pictures (Doukake, Bachi, Yubikake, Ito Set, Dou Gomu, Neo, Koma, Naga Fukuro), and a Fujaku Strip. -
This is Kyle's personal Eclipse — the very shamisen featured…This is Kyle's personal Eclipse — the very shamisen featured in countless YouTube videos and live performances around the world. If you've watched him play and thought "Holy cow, that is a very tasteful shamisen," well… here's your chance to rock it for yourself! -
Only two of these exist in the world. Originally made…Only two of these exist in the world. Originally made as a matching pair for Kyle and his wife Su, this is one of two Narra Eclipses ever crafted — built from wood sourced in California and shaped by the hands of Tokyo Wagakki. This is the shamisen made for Kyle. -
Only two of these exist in the world. Originally made…Only two of these exist in the world. Originally made as a matching pair for Kyle and his wife Su, this is one of two Narra Eclipses ever crafted — built from wood sourced in California and shaped by the hands of Tokyo Wagakki. This is the shamisen made for Su. -
Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all…Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all skill levels. The Synthetic skin Hibiki Classic, in either black or white, is included in the price. Wood: Kouki Sao and Tenjin Bachi: refurbished Bachi Itomaki: Ebony Skin: Hibiki, Black or White, at your choice (synthetic skin) Sawari: Azuma Sawari Neck: Chuuzao (medium neck) Condition: In excellent condition Includes: Everything shown in pictures (Doukake, Bachi, Yubikake, Ito Set, Dou Gomu, Neo, Koma, Naga Fukuro), and a Fujaku Strip. -
Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all…Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all skill levels. The Synthetic skin Hibiki Classic, in either black or white, is included in the price. Wood: Kouki Sao and Tenjin Bachi: refurbished Bachi Itomaki: Ebony Skin: Hibiki, Black or White, at your choice (synthetic skin) Sawari: Azuma Sawari Neck: Futozao (thick neck) Condition: In excellent condition Includes: Everything shown in pictures (Doukake, Bachi, Yubikake, Ito Set, Dou Gomu, Neo, Koma, Naga Fukuro), and a Fujaku Strip. -
Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all…Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all skill levels. The Synthetic skin Hibiki Classic, in either black or white, is included in the price. Wood: Karin Sao and Tenjin Bachi: refurbished Bachi Itomaki: Ebony Skin: Hibiki, Black or White, at your choice (synthetic skin) Sawari: Yamasawari Neck: Hosozao (thin neck) Condition: In excellent condition Includes: Everything shown in pictures (Doukake, Bachi, Yubikake, Ito Set, Dou Gomu, Neo, Koma, Naga Fukuro), and a Fujaku Strip.
